Top 10 Mobile App Development Firms

When it comes down to choosing the right app agency to turn to, we know what we're talking about. Savvy Apps has been in the industry since 2009, just around when apps could start being built. During that time we've had the privilege of watching other app agencies grow into their own along with us.

There are a number of companies that we respect as peers. For some of them, we have even chatted with their founders, sharing ideas and industry experiences. Like us, many of these companies started creating apps back in the beginning of the app stores. Not everyone will end up working with Savvy Apps, whether it's due to timing, our capacity, or there not being a mutual good fit. Since we're often asked for referrals, here, in no particular order, are our picks for the top 10 app design and development companies to consider when starting your own app.

Bottle Rocket

Bottle Rocket is known for being one of the first big app agencies. Acquired by WPP in 2013, they now work beyond mobile, including gaming and publishing.

MartianCraft

MartianCraft was started by a couple of well-known people who worked in the Apple ecosystem for decades. They're an entirely virtual company. They work mostly with larger companies and brands while also offering a number of apps made in-house.

SFCD

Once known primarily for their designs, SFCD eventually grew into a full-service firm. They consider themselves a “boutique” agency that specializes in, among other disciplines, product strategy and brand identity. Their employees work from offices in multiple locations.

WillowTree

We consider WillowTree to be one of our friends down the road since they are located in Virginia as well. They have expanded to two locations in the Southeast. They take advantage of their proximity to universities in particular as part of their recruiting strategy. They mostly work with larger, established brands.

Fueled

Fueled is an app agency in New York, where the competition is stiff. They are active in the startup community and do more startup work compared to the others in this list. They even offer a co-working space for startup companies in need of a physical location.

Raizlabs

Raizlabs is also active in the startup community. They offer an incubator to help companies with their mobile endeavors and host events for startups in particular. We also know Greg Raiz from presenting at 360iDev.

Mercury Intermedia

Mercury Intermedia was founded before Apple introduced the App Store in 2008 but became active in apps from the outset. Like many of the others on this list, they mostly work with brand businesses. We know Rusty Mitchell, their VP of Design, from the local community including speaking at similar events.

Big Nerd Ranch

Big Nerd Ranch is known for their training. They host bootcamps and publish development teaching guides for individuals as well as corporations. Since their founding, they've grown to offer app creation services for mostly brand-name businesses, especially those who took advantage of their training services.

ustwo

Ustwo invests a lot into their own products and it shows. Their mobile game, Monument Valley, for example, won an Apple iPad Game of the Year in 2014 and was an Apple Design Award winner that same year. It's still one of the top paid apps in the App Store. While not commercially successful, one of our favorite games back in the day was ustwo's Whale Trail. In the past we chatted with their founder John “Mills” Miller about various app-related topics.

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Savvy Apps is a Washington, D.C. mobile design and mobile development company serving global brands and cutting-edge startups. We're a product team for hire that's driven by making life better, one app at a time.